Remarks by President Bush and President Kwasniewski of Poland in An Exchange of Toasts
The State Dining Room

8:37 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all. Mr. President and Madam First
Lady, it's a great privilege for Laura and I to host you here in the
White House. Tonight's dinner is a small way of saying dziekuja for
the warm hospitality you showed us last year in Warsaw.

Today Poland and the United States are meeting the challenges of
our times, sustained by bonds of kinship, culture and commerce that
unite our peoples. Two centuries ago, Poles fought for America's
independence. Before and since, thousands of American communities have
been enriched by the energies of millions of Poles who came here to
settle.

Mr. President, tomorrow we'll travel to Michigan to visit one of
those communities. But pride requires me to point out that the oldest
permanent Polish settlement in America can be found in my home state.
In the fall of 1854, more than 100 Polish families traveled to the
prairies of south Texas, seeking greater freedom and opportunity. They
arrived at their destination on Christmas Eve, and they christened
their new settlement, Panna Maria -- or Virgin Mary. The town is
still there, a living symbol of our common ties.

Just as Poles keep contributing to America's vitality, Poland keeps
contributing to the vitality of the entire world. Poland's opposition
to Soviet tyranny inspired half a continent, and helped bring down an
evil empire. And the passion for human dignity and iron integrity of a
Polish Pope has added to the momentum of freedom around the globe.

Freedom did not have to be imported into Poland. It is found
naturally in the rhythm of every Polish heart -- a commitment of
conscience and faith stronger than the brutality of conquerors or the
official lies of oppressors.

In 1989, Poles on all sides of the ideological divide made an
historic decision to build a society based on democracy and human
rights and the rule of law. Two years later, more than 100 political
parties participated in Poland's parliamentary elections, including one
party called the Beer Lovers' Party. We're watching to see how much
beer you drink tonight, Mr. President. (Laughter.) All but a handful
of these parties were committed to a Poland founded on freedom.

In the decades since, Poland has continued to be an example for
other nations seeking to claim their democratic future. And Poland has
found what America has found, that democracy and free markets are
honorable and just and indispensable to international progress.

America and Poland are joined by a commitment to helping each other
along freedom's road. Thomas Jefferson once wrote to Kosciuszko and
praised him for being true to a single object, the freedom and
happiness of man. Today this single object defines Poland, itself.
And it defines the partnership between Poland and America. Together,
we can and we will complete the unification of Europe. We will reach
out to Russia and Ukraine, and we will win the war against terror.

Poland and America share a vision that is stronger than intolerance
and hatred and bigotry. It is a vision of a world that is free and
just, a world that respects people's dignity and rewards their
enterprise and creativity.

Mr. President, let us toast to friendship between our countries.
Tonight, the old Polish saying has new meaning in a new century: For
your freedom, and ours.

(A toast is offered.)

PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: Mr. President, Mrs. Laura Bush, ladies and
gentlemen, it's a great pleasure to be here in Washington. I -- we,
together with my wife, we feel here almost like at home. And on my own
behalf, on behalf of my wife and my friends, I thank you for this
splendid welcome and the warm words uttered also here.

I do not know if there is another such unique thing in the world as
Polish-American friendship, reaching through the ocean, tested
throughout centuries, revitalized by new acts of solidarity, and
reconfirmed by unfailing partnership. Poles have especially warm
feelings about America. According to Poles, Americans are in top three
most liked nations in Poland.

Perhaps our sense of community is so strong because we are children
of freedom. Because freedom plays the leading role in the history of
our nations. Because we have never failed each other and have always
supported each other in the fight and building a better world.

There is no doubt that the might and the dynamism of the United
States originate in the free thought and entrepreneurship of a free
men, energy of democracy that continues to search for new solutions.
And it is worth emphasizing that the sovereignty of Polish people,
regained 13 years ago, takes our country down the same routes as the
ones that have been followed by America towards the faster development
of democracy, economy and civic society. And although geographic
distance and potential divide us, we are brought together by love of
freedom and justice, and we share faith in better future.

We are proud in Poland with what we have achieved, with how we have
been transforming our country, with how we have been able to bring
other countries of our region of Europe closer to one another, and
encourage the cooperation. I know that also here in America, Poland is
perceived as a success story, and we are aware how much in our efforts
we owe to the support of the USA.

Today, I have a special opportunity to tell you, Mr. President, on
behalf of all Polish people and from the bottom of my heart, thank
you. Good job, Mr. President. It was an excellent job. (Applause.)

In Europe, we live in a land severely experienced by history, the
land of many wars, national, religious and social conflict. And from
that region of the world that has been in flames so very often, we are
bringing good news to America, unceasingly, for over a dozen of years.

Central and Eastern Europe has been transforming into the area of
cooperation, stability, and security -- not without difficulties, not
without problems. Nobody, however, should have any doubt that the
direction towards European integration in the frame of the European
Union, and Euro-Atlantic integration in the frame of NATO are
irreversible.

The nations of our region that have regained freedom, sovereignty
and democracy have decided to choose this way. However, we feel that
this process has not been completed yet. Among the countries located
between the Baltic, Adriatic and the Black Sea, there are NATO members,
those who are strong candidates to the European Union, as well as the
countries that so far are only aspiring to these organizations. One
hundred and twenty million people live in that region. We want to help
each other, and we count on the U.S. support in this process.

It is worth stressing that Poland and America are more than just
fair-weather friends, and we should nurture it, these relations. Let
us find our place in the global political system, become one of the
pillars of transatlantic breach, and an important link in international
cooperation.

Poland and America can rely upon each other. We shall be together
in the uncompromising fight against terror, in strengthening the unity
of Western civilization, in building the world of prosperity, peace and
security. In the war on terror, even if it lasts many decades, we
shall go to every battle, take up every risk, until the victory.

I want to wish you, Mr. President, Mrs. Laura Bush, and everybody
here, every success. And I raise this toast to Poland and America, and
to our friendship, creative strength of freedom.